Notebook: Big Plays Coming From All Angles On Defense

A shutout on defense is always the ultimate goal, but something even more encouraging for the Packers' new 3-4 defense may have come out of the blanking of Detroit last Sunday.

Granted, the effort came against an undermanned Lions team that was missing its starting quarterback in Matthew Stafford and No. 1 receiver in Calvin Johnson. But in racking up multiple interceptions, sacks and other tackles for loss, the Packers showed an element to their defense that they hope continues from here on out - they got nearly everybody involved.

Players at all levels of the defense - the front line, the linebackers, and the secondary - had a hand in the numerous big plays. In fact, in the 13 high-impact plays (three interceptions, five sacks, five other TFLs), no less than 10 different players were involved, a sharing of the wealth on defense that shows the unit is progressing the way defensive coordinator Dom Capers envisioned.